After a strong homecoming game performance against Blair, the football team fell to 3-5 with a 41-24 loss against the undefeated Damascus Hornets Oct. 18.

“[Coming into the game] we were confident in our ability to play with D-mass, but we understood how good they were as well,” receiver Ben Miltenburg said. “We knew the odds were against us, but we felt like we could make something happen.”

The Hornets’ high-powered offense was able to put points on the board right away, scoring 14 points in each of the first two quarters. Although the Viking’s offense was able to move the ball up the field, kicker Zach Snyder scored their only points of the half with a field goal.

Going into the second half down 28-3, the Vikings were able to make adjustments and add some points to the scoreboard.

“When we realized that we could move the ball on them, it gave us the confidence we needed to put up points on the county’s best team,” Miltenburg said.

The Vikes came out fired up in the second half with strong effort by running back Zac Morton and an inspired performance by the offensive line. Whitman fans finally had something to cheer about as Morton found his way into the end zone.

Quarterback Kevin McGowan threw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to receivers Billy Lee and Matt Breves. The defense also stepped up its game, slowing down the Hornets’ speedy offense and only allowing 13 points in the second half.

In spite of outscoring Damascus in the second half, the first half deficit proved too great to overcome as the Vikings ultimately fell 41-24. The Vikes look to recover from the loss when they travel to take on the 2-6 Walter Johnson Wildcats Oct. 26.